A public health advisor wants physicians to be aware of new research showing a relatively high rate of HIV infection among pregnant Aboriginal women. Patients in this group should be tested and if necessary treated to reduce the possibility of transmission of HIV to their babies, said David Martin.

Martin, a program medical officer with Health Canada in Vancouver, coordinated a 3-year study (September 2000 to 2003), during which blood samples were taken from 5242 pregnant Aboriginal women. A total of 15 tested positive for HIV; 7 times more than what would be expected in the general population.

“The objective was to find out what the prevalence of HIV was in that group. We focused on the prenatal population because . . . they're coming in on a regular basis for testing. They're a fairly representative group of First Nations people.”

Because the study was conducted anonymously, none of the women who tested positive were notified, a fact that drew criticism from some Aboriginal groups. Kevin Barlow, head of the Canadian Aboriginal AIDS Network, said “Without any direct way of informing certain study participants that they have tested HIV positive, substantial ongoing efforts need to be taken to educate Aboriginal women about all the implications of these findings.”

Martin notes the research was done with support from the BC First Nations Chiefs' Health Committee, and approved by the UBC ethics review board. The study was designed to allow participants to remain anonymous.

“If this was the only way for them to be HIV tested, this would certainly be unethical,” said Martin. However, he noted women can be tested at any time through their physicians.

Martin said women in urban areas outside BC would be similarly at risk. “I would be concerned that rates might be high as well in other provinces as a result of . . . intravenous drug activity.” — Deborah Jones, Vancouver